Farmers Movement Archive

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal fasts today in support of farmers

NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he would hold a daylong fast on Monday in support of the protesting farmers and urged AAP volunteers, supporters and the general public to do the same. Monday will see farmer leaders holding a fast, sharing the same stage at Singhu Border, to protest against the Centre’s new farm laws. “The farmers have appealed to the people to fast for a day in their support. I will also fast tomorrow in the support of our farmers. I want to appeal to the supporters and volunteers of AAP to do the same,” Kejriwal said in a digital press briefing. “I know thousands and lakhs of people who are with the farmers... they cannot reach the borders because of their day-to-day schedule, but are supporting the farmers. I want to appeal to all those people to fast for a day,” he added. “For the last few days, a few central government ministers and BJP functionaries are calling the farmers anti-nationals, they are terming this a movement of anti-nationals. The thousands of ex-servicemen and ex-armymen, who fought for the country by risking their lives, are sitting with the farmers on the borders. Thousands of armymen are praying for the farmers from their homes. I want to ask BJP, are they anti-nationals?” he said. “Many national and international players who have brought laurels for the nation are sitting on the borders in support of the farmers. Are they anti-nationals? I personally know a few singers and Bollywood celebrities, who come from farmers’ families and are supporting the farmers, are they anti-nationals? Many doctors who are supporting the farmers, are they anti-nationals?” he said. “I want to appeal to the Centre to put an end to their ego. The governments are formed by the public, the public is not formed by the governments. The three farm laws should be immediately repealed and the farmers should be given guaranteed MSPs, and a new Bill should be passed on it. All the demands of the farmers should be accepted without any condition as soon as possible,” he added. Kejriwal said that during the days of Anna Hazare’s movement at Ramlila Maidan, those involved in the movement were called anti-nationals. “The attempts made by Congress to malign our movement in those days... the same kind of attempts are made by BJP against farmers' movements today. They should not dare to call farmers anti-nationals,” he said.

The Times of India

2020-12-14

Delhi